Self-care every day 2019

[mumof2sarah]

Hi everyone and HAPPY NEW YEAR

I've not made a resolution as such but I am going to do more for myself in the form of self-care. It doesn't have to be too much or for too long but I want to do something daily. I'd love for you all to try and join me.

Here's a list of some of the things I've got on my list:

Read a chapter of what ever book I'm reading.
Bubble bath.
Meditation.
Walk.
Lunch by myself.
Cup of tea in peace.
Movie and candles.
Music hour.

That's just a few of mine. My aim is daily BUT I'm not going to over push myself where I get annoyed if I don't do it. I will try at least 5/10 days even if it's just a 5 minute meditation or a cup or tea in peace.

Who wants to join me? And what're your favourite ways of self-care?x

How are you all today? I've done a bit of a tidy this morning now I'm sat under a throw having half hour peace with a brew x

I have had a lovely walk and the church I have been wanting to go inside but always appears closed was open today! So had a little look around and lit a candle! I may even attend the service there next sunday . My home is clean and tidy so later on I will have a nice long shower and moisterise and maybe paint my nails for the week ahead. This thread is lovely and postive, thanks mumof2. Hope everyones day is going well

@Tink1990 I really need to start walking I think it'll do me the world of good. Welcome to the thread please use it and enjoy it xx

Caught up with an old friend this morning, which was lovely. Off for a walk later - the sun is actually shining, for the first time in days.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie im catching up with a friend tomorrow I can't wait :) enjoy your walk xxx

mumof2sarah walking is great. You get fresh air, get fit and you get to know all these secret corners of your neighbourhood. Tink that church sounds lovely.
I just came back from a stroll across the heath with family at lunchtime. We met lots of dogs, saw cute toddlers on their first ever pony ride and had a good old chat with DC.

@OneStepMoreFun sounds lovely :) I'm going to start walking in the morning when I've dropped the kids off xx

Hello everyone, you are all doing so well
I'm still keeping up the water drinking and today my little treat is to paint my nails (so typing VERY carefully!)

@mumof2 hope you managed a decent nights sleep. I’m not sleeping very well at the moment so am feeling more tired than usual.

My self care yesterday was spending the day with my bf and baby. We went out for dinner with friends which was lovely.

Today I’ve been for a stroll around the park, was so cold we bundled up and had a lovely cappuccino at the end. A book I ordered has also arrived and I’m about to start reading it, I was so excited to receive it. Baby is next to me fast asleep so I am taking the opportunity for some peace and a nice cup of tea.

@tink - I’m thinking of going to church on Sunday’s, I thought it would be nice for the baby and also to get to know more people in my community

@Teaistheanswer well done on the water intake and thank you you've just reminded me to make another one :) xx

Hi @Didsomeonesaybunny unfortunately still not much sleep but I'm feeling ok, I've just got everything ready to start back into our usual routine tomorrow so I'm about to climb into bed whilst DD2 reads me some of her book then when she goes to sleep I'll probably be following suit lol. I loved your weekend of self-care. There's nothing better than plenty of family time. Hope you enjoy your new book xx

I managed to spend some time by myself colouring. It really helps my anxiety. I have also been getting into a new series so to be able to watch tv in peace and quiet is bliss (I have a toddler ). all this talk of coffee is making me want to get DH to watch the DC next Sunday so I can go and treat myself to coffee and cake. I will most likely look like a complete loner but DC is 2 and the most I've been away from him is 14 hours - and that's only because he was asleep! I don't think I'll know what to do with myself without a small version of me yelling mama at my feet.

@8FencingWire I just have to say, you're doing amazing at this!

@mumof2sarah I also have to admire you taking the time out to reply to everyones individual posts thank you for that (and the thread)

@mumof2sarah - sorry you’re still not sleeping very well, sleep deprivation is so hard. That sounds lovely listening to your DD reading and very cosy! I do love the dark wintry nights for a bit of cosiness.

I bought the art museum which is basically an encyclopaedia of art work from Stone Age to present day. It weight a stone in weight - it’s bloody massive!

@vanilla - coffee and cake a is a must. Starting my diet properly tomorrow so that means no more cake for me.

@VanillaSugarCookies thank you for your kind words, it's going to be harder for me to reply from tomorrow but I kind of class the replying as some of my self care because I tend to do it when I have a free few minutes and I can breathe and I love doing it :) you should go for your cake and coffee it's liberating being able to eat in peace and just people watch for a few moments. I hope you have a wonderful week xx

@Didsomeonesaybunny I'm not really into art but I know a few people that are, including my father in law and I think he'd love that book so going to write it down for maybe a Father's Day present for him thank you xx

It's now nearly 1:30 and I'm still awake... I've done everything in the book. So now I'm going to take self care and smash it, aka try some meditation and hope for the best. I have to be up at 6 and out the door for 7:30 and I'm already wanting it to be Monday nights bedtime lol. Have a wonderful Monday everyone xxx

yesterday I binge watched a whole season on Netflix 🙄 and opened the tin of shortbreads. Shhhh.

@8FencingWire no need to whisper that, shout it from the roof tops, THATS a real good self-care day in my book, relaxing and eating lol. I've been and done a food shop, ran some errands and now I'm gonna have a nana nap before I put tea on x

Had a lovely weekend in London - I cried happy tears through my favourite ever show and we walked about 15 miles.

Slept well last night and working from home with the cats today. The flat is tidy, cleaner coming later so that will make me feel good this evening. Had a healthy food shop delivered (with some mini chocolate treats!) and picked up some new candles in the sale.

Had a healthy breakfast & lunch (500 cals) and going to make a pie for tea later.

Might do a bit of a beauty pamper later. Have got some online shopping orders to try on and also sort out parcels to send back.

Yahbasic do you mind telling me what you had for breakfast and lunch that came to only 500 cals? I can't get both in under 600 without feeling starved and grumpy.

Sure, I had about 120g of Greek yoghurt with blueberries for breakfast and then half a pot of vegetable soup with a tiny bit of Parmesan grated over the top and a Warburtons small slice of bread toasted into croutons.

Basically eating a small amount so I can have pie & mash later

Thanks. Worth waiting for pie and mash!

I would absolutely love to do this! Can I add- spend two hours in the library.

@YahBasic I got emotional reading that, what a wonderful weekend you've had :) enjoy your beauty pamper tonight lovely xx

@Candymay welcome :) that sounds amazing. I keep saying I want to go to our main recently refurbished library right in the city centre but haven't got there yet. Will be heading there whilst the children are at school though ;) x

Hi mumof2
I am enjoying this thread, so thanks for starting it. I have a nearly 10 month old baby plus two older dcs, so definitely time to start thinking about some self care
I feel my shoulders lift when I write
Yes, I feel this way too, so much so that I have written a novel over the past couple of years. I also want to start a gripe journal which is separate to my self-care journal because I don't tend to have many people in rl with whom I can share my worries. If money was no object I would book myself regular counselling sessions just to talk out some stuff.
Reading...love this and have ordered a couple of second hand books.
Have painted my nails and it has given me an instant lift
Need to sort out my diet which I hope to start in the Spring
Walking...fab...if I had a beach local to me, I would be on it, preferably with some writing/reading beside me. This is definitely an aspiration for the future...to do more walking.
Hot Baths x
My hair needs a good cut, can't remember when I last went to the hairdressers, so plan to book this as a bit of a birthday treat.
I have bought a few clothes in the Winter Sales - I am always scrabbling around for clothes that are either very dark or I bought due to pregnancy weight gain. I wear a lot of mumsy clothes that look very similar and it would be nice to have a couple of dresses etc. to wear for a change.
To be a bit more social...to find a couple of interest groups, relating to the above, I am an introvert but it would be good for me I think, to meet a few more people and talk about something other than dcs. Plus it would be an excuse to wear a few of the aforementioned clothes.
I'm going to keep reading with interest!

Back to work today, and a very long day.

Self care tonight will involve mushroom risotto and a long bath with 'Lethal White'.

lavender, see if you can find a book club near you on meet up. I love mine :)
vanilla, thank you. There’s a back story to this, it’s a real effort, but I’m enjoying this.
sarah, I did a CBT course a while back. One thing that I struggle/struggled with is sleep. I fall asleep but then I wake up at stupid o’clock mulling over stuff and don’t go back to sleep. It’s torture.
Anyway, the cBT course taught me to allocate ‘worry time’. No more than 20 min, I prefer to do it in the morning, I write everything down. So when I ping wide awake at 2am I am telling myself ‘now it’s NOT the time, your worry time is in the morning’. It works.
I understand that you can’t fall asleep, but see if you can apply this, make it work for you.

Self care tonight would have been going for a swim. I simply can’t bring myself to go. Although I really should. Keep telling myself I went yesterday.
So I’ll go have a shower, brush my teeth and get into bed. I’ll do a meditation and then sleep. I need sleep.